Fashion and Friendship: Karl Lagerfeld & Princess Caroline
This year’s Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute exhibit celebrates Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty. The subject pays tribute to the lines and curves of the designer’s beautifully rendered sketches. Complex illustrations brought to life with fabric and thread by an elite team of seamstresses.
Karl was an industry legend, but to Princess Caroline of Hanover (formerly Princess Caroline of Monaco), he was also a dear and trusted friend. They had a shared appreciation for the arts, opera, and literature.
King of Prêt-À-Porter and the Princess
Karl Lagerfeld and Caroline of Hanover first met in 1973, in his Paris apartment, during a photoshoot for Vogue. Their affinity for each other grew from there and when Karl took over the helm at Chanel, she wore his designs almost exclusively - making the switch from Dior. In a rare interview, she confided “He influenced me, enriched me, the list of what he brought me is long. He is someone absolutely central to my life...” when speaking of their decades-long friendship.
Reimagining Monaco’s Bal De La Rose
As host of the Bal de la Rose, Caroline of Hanover enlisted Lagerfeld as a creative collaborator in 2009. For several years he oversaw the theme of the annual charity fundraising event, which opens Monaco’s party season and attracts international and high-profile guests to Monte Carlo. His artful vision manifested into extravagant, fantastical evenings in the Salle des Étoiles, and renewed a gala that was so close to Princess Grace’s heart. Proceeds from this philanthropic event aid the Princess Grace Foundation which supports and elevates emerging artistic talent and honors the princesses' living legacy.
Family, Fashion and Front Rows
Princess Caroline’s daughter, Charlotte Casiraghi, says that she feels she was “...born with Chanel”, referring to photographs of her mother wearing the label when she was pregnant with her. Carrying-on the family relationship, Charlotte is a Chanel brand ambassador, and in a delightful viral moment, even rode her horse down the catwalk in 2022.
Both her and her mother regularly sit front row at Chanel shows and continue to wear pieces from the latest collections, highlighting the special attachment between the brand and the Monégasque family. This relationship is not unlike the connection Princess Grace had with designers, particularly Dior. Princess Grace embodied the elegance and sophistication of Dior and similarly, Princess Caroline and Charlotte epitomize the classic allure of the Chanel woman. This tradition of influential relationships between Monaco and legendary designers goes much deeper than artist and muse, it’s rooted in deep friendship and affection. Years later, the results of these iconic partnerships continue to be a source of inspiration, proving their enduring and aspirational power. When building the Grace de Monaco brand, it was important to create modern luxury products that she herself would have loved. Our team of experts and designers are careful to retain the references and connections to Princess Grace and Monaco.
Love & Legacies
Princess Caroline and Karl Lagerfeld developed a strong bond that went beyond fashion. Publicly and privately, they shaped and influenced each other, as only the closest friends can. Both were entrusted with beloved legacies, and each in their own way, skillfully created a balance between the modernity and the traditions of their respective houses.
Bring the unique fragrance of the French Riviera home and support The Princess Grace Awards program that honors Princess Grace’s living legacy. The Promenade Sur Le Rocher scented candle has a timeless and artful design that enhances any room.
